Peacham Shooting Leaves Two Dead in Apparent Murder Suicide; SWAT Team and Bomb Squad Called

By Staff Writer | June 20, 2013 10:16 AM EDT

Peacham shooting that left two dead in Vermont is being called a murder suicide, according to published reports. The Peacham shooting left two men dead in Vermont in confusing circumstances. One of the victims was a former elementary school principal. The Peacham shooting triggered a police response that included a SWAT team and a low-flying search helicopter. Authorities say a bomb squad was called to check out a suspicious package in the van.

Vermont State Police say the Peacham shooting that ended with the deaths of two men was a murder suicide. Officials believe the Jeannie Peabody’s former husband shot and killed her current husband and then shot himself yesterday morning.

Officials say Jeannie Peabody called 911 after she saw a white van pull up on her front lawn in Peacham, Vermont, at around 7 a.m. She said her husband, Mark Peabody, 50, went outside to talk to the person in the van.

According to the police reports, John Jackson, 59, Jeannie Peabody’s ex-husband, opened fire on Mark Peabody. Police said they discovered Mark Peabody’s body outside his home. A SWAT team and a search helicopter was called up. Police found Peabody’s body outside the home and John Jackson’s body wsa found inside the home when they arrived on the scene. Both men died due to gunshot wounds.

Jeannie Peabody’s ex-husband was the former principal of Peacham Elementary School. John Jackson lives in Amherst, New Hampshire. The divorced couple was apparently embroiled in an ongoing dispute.

Vermont State Police Lt. Bob Cushing said, “Through the course of the investigation, it was learned that Ms. Peabody had an ongoing disagreement with her ex-husband, identified as John Jackson, age 59, of New Hampshire. Mrs. Peabody was having disagreements with her ex-husband over child-support payments.”

Police said there had been no previous reports of violence involving the two men. Detectives are still investigating the shooting Autopsies will be performed on the bodies at a later date.

Jeannie Peabody said she heard gunshots and went into the basement of the house. She later slipped out to make her escape to the neighbor’s home.

Mark Peabody was found shot dead on the lawn outside his home. State and local police also discovered John Jackson, 59, inside the house. He too had been shot dead.

If Jeannie Peabody hadn’t gotten away, she might have been the third victim.